*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Need a quick dinner idea or a way to use up leftover rice? Try this healthy vegan Asian rice salad recipe, a nutritious vegetarian meal made with brown rice and vegetables for a fantastic mix of flavors and textures. It's a little bit sweet and a little bit sour, with lots of crunchy texture.

You can serve this hot, but it really shines as a cold salad, making it a perfect vegetarian option for picnics, potlucks, and barbecues, since it's easy to make a big batch.

Steps to Make It

In a small mixing bowl, combine the peanut oil, salt, black pepper, sugar, and sesame oil. Whisk until the sugar dissolves.

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Pour the mixture over the chilled brown rice in a large mixing bowl. Toss gently to coat the rice, then set the bowl aside.

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Steam the diced carrots, snow peas, and corn if desired, for 1 to 2 minutes, until they just start to turn tender. Plunge them into an ice bath to flash chill them and halt the cooking process, drain them, then stir the vegetables into the rice.

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Add the remaining ingredients, from the rice vinegar through the chopped green onions, and toss to distribute the vegetables throughout the rice.

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Serve the salad chilled and garnished with chopped fresh parsley or cilantro, if desired.

Variations

Substitute rice noodles, quinoa, farro (note that it won't be a gluten-free dish), or another favorite grain for the brown rice.

Add bean sprouts, shelled edamame, chopped peanuts, or a squeeze of fresh lime for a bright flavor. Substitute chopped fresh mint for the parsley or cilantro.

Add minced garlic or ginger, a dab of chili paste, or a dash of red pepper flakes to taste for a spicy component.

Add cooked lentils to increase the heft and protein content of the dish.

Top the salad with popcorn, spicy baked chickpeas, or seasoned hemp seeds for a creative crunch.

Serve the salad on a bed of arugula, kale, spinach, or other greens.

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